How Colt Emerson's first career Mariners home run looked and sounded
In case you haven't heard, 20-year-old Colt Emerson had his first major-league hit last night. It also happened to be a three-run home run.
The crowd of more than 30,000 people erupted Monday night as Emerson, who was called up Sunday afternoon, sent the ball into the right-field seats.
It was a storybook moment for the rookie, from his family's reaction to the fan who caught the ball. Here's how it looked and sounded.
‘Goodbye baseball'
"Looking for that first base hit, let's see if it comes right here," Rick Rizzs said as Emerson waited for Chicago reliever Trevor Richards to throw the seventh pitch of the at-bat.
Emerson connected with the 80.7-mph changeup, sending the ball into right field.
"Swing and a fly ball, down the right field line, in deep, this one is gone!" Rizzs yelled. "Goodbye baseball!"
https://twitter.com/SeattleSports/status/2056608865291223405
Again the 2-2 … down the right-field line, into the corner … this one is gone!," Aaron Goldsmith's voice echoed on the Mariners' TV call. "Colt Emerson, you're not in your backyard anymore. Your first big-league home run. Your first major-league hit."
https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/2056590569120690479
Family affair
Emerson himself barely had time to make it to T-Mobile for his debut Sunday. His family, who lives out of state, wasn't able to make it.
But on Monday night, a group that included his parents, girlfriend and extended family members were at the ballpark for his second major-league game.
In the eighth inning, he put on a show for them.
As MLB.com's Daniel Kramer pointed out, the first person to hug Emerson's dad after the home run was Mariners pitcher Bryan Woo's dad.
https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/2056602299469086809
https://twitter.com/DKramer_/status/2056603735451992425
A perfect catch and a trade
One lucky fan was perfectly poised to scoop up Emerson's first home run ball after it bounced up from right field into the stands.
The fan, featured on the Mariners' social media, was standing in the first row up against the rail with a glove. Immediately after making the catch, he raised the glove above his head, nodded his head back and pumped his first in the air.
It appears that Emerson was reunited with the special ball at the end of the game. The Mariners posted photos of Emerson holding the ball and of the pair meeting on the field after the game. The fan was holding a bat in one photo, presumably given to him in the trade.
https://twitter.com/Mariners/status/2056769096763449683
Sounds from the crowd
More than 30,000 people came out to T-Mobile for the Monday night game against the White Sox.
In the moments leading up to Emerson's home run, there was a hum of chatter across the crowd. Then came the pitch, followed by the sound of Emerson's bat connecting with the ball.
The cheers and claps started. Fans yelled "go, go!" And then the ball was gone.
Across the ballpark, fans jumped out of their seats, threw their hands in the air and screamed as the screens lit up pink with two words: "HOME RUN."
https://twitter.com/SeattleSports/status/2056596716644864220
'A home run for the kid'
A familiar name was in the visitor's dugout Monday night, as former Mariners outfielder Jarred Kelenic returned to T-Mobile in a White Sox jersey.
"It is a home run for the kid," White Sox announcer Len Kasper said. "His first major-league hit.
Emerson's three-run homer made him the 11th player in Mariners history to hit a home run for his first MLB hit. It was the first since 2021, when none other than Kelenic hit a home run on May 14 of that year against the Guardians.
https://twitter.com/MsPlayoffHope/status/2056594801324327382
A break in tradition
It's a common MLB tradition across teams for rookies to receive the silent treatment in the dugout after their first career home run.
That wasn't the case for Emerson.
J.P. Crawford, Julio Rodríguez and Randy Arozarena were standing just beyond the entrance to the dugout, ready to congratulate their new teammate. Crawford bounced up and down with excitement with the celebratory trident in hand, ready to pass it to Emerson.
The veteran shortstop beamed throughout the entire interaction as he greeted Emerson and passed him the trident.
https://twitter.com/RussellHartness/status/2056592012451951079
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This story was originally published May 19, 2026 at 4:56 PM.